“And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck,
and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will
encounter spread open. [It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is
yourself against you this Day as accountant." Whoever is guided is only
guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it.
And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We
punish until We sent a messenger.” [Al Isra: 13-15]

He starts by distributing the books then orders them to be read and that he will be accounted for. This reading includes every person even if they are illiterate. These books are for establishing judgement upon the slaves. The scrolls fly and therules are distributed. May Allah protect us. The Almighty said:

﴿ وَإِذَا الصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ ﴾

“And when the pages are made public” [Al Takwir: 10]

People vary (in the way) they take books. The ones who take the books in their right (hand) are believers. The one who takes the book by their left (hand) behind their back is the disbeliever. Allah Almighty says:

“Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand. He will be judged with an easy account. And return to his people in happiness. But as for he who is given his record behind his back. He will cry out for destruction.” [Al Inshiqaq: 7-12]

“So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account. So he will be in a pleasant life. In an elevated garden. Its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past." But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record. And had not known what is my account. I wish my death had been the decisive one. My wealth has not availed me. Gone from me is my authority. [ Allah will say], "Seize him and shackle him. Then into Hellfire drive him. Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him." Indeed, he did not used to believe in Allah , the Most Great.” [Al Haaqah: 19-33]

-How do we consolidate between His words Almighty: “So as for he who is given his record in his right hand” and His words: “But as for he who is given his record behind his back”?

Our Sheikh Al Othaimeen (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “consolidating between the two of them is to say: he takes it by his right (hand) but the left goes off behind the back. The fate is based on the deeds. As a man made the book of Allah behind his back, he will be given his book on the Day of Resurrection from behind his back, an appropriate penalty.”

The criminals will be fearful as preceded, in this book, because it will not leave anything except that it is written.

Allah Almighty said:

﴿ وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا ﴾
“And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the
criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us!
What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has
enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them].
And your Lord does injustice to no
one.” [Al Kahf: 49]

• Picturing the view of the Day of Reckoning by Al Qurtubi (may Allah be pleased with him

“If the slaves are resurrected from their graves for the situation and they stand in it as Allah wills; barefoot and naked. The time for the reckoning that Allah wanted to account them for has come. He orders the books written by Al Kiram Al Katiboon (angels who write everyone’s actions) so they mention the deeds of the people and they bring them. Among them are those are given their books in their right and they are the happy ones. Among them are those who are given their books in their left or behind their backs and they are the fearful ones. At that moment they read what is in each book

Imagine yourself, my brother: if the books fly, the scales are weighed and you are called by your name at the head of the creation: “where is so and so?” There to the display with Allah Almighty. The angels are empowered to take you so they bring you close to Allah. They are not prohibited by any similarities in any names with your name or the name of your father. If you know that you are the one who is wanted by the call; if the call knocks your heart; you will know that you are the one who is wanted. Your body will tremble. Your limbs will panic. Your colour will change. Your heart will race. You will be passed over the rows to your Lord for the display upon you. The moment is in His hands. The creatures raise their eyes to you and you are among them. Your heart has raced and your fear has become intense because of your knowledge of what is wanted of you

Imagine yourself…you are between the hands of your Lord. In your hand is a scroll that details your deeds, not leaving out anything from its detail nor hiding its secrets. You are reading from it with a dull tone and broken heart. The horrors are surrounding you between your hands and behind you. How many sorrows did you forget that you were reminded of! How many sins did you hide that were exposed and shown! How many deeds did you think were safe for you (to commit); its responsibilities upon you were finished at that moment and they were brought down after you had high hopes in them! What regret for your heart and what sorrow for what you left out from the worship of your Lord

As for the one who is given the book in his right, he will know that he is from the people of paradise. He will say: “Here, read my record!” That is after Allah permits him to read his book. If the person is a pioneer in virtues; he is called upon and he is asked for. His followers will increase. He will be called by his name and the name of his father so he will move forwards until he is near. A white book is taken out for him. At its back are his sins and at its front are his virtues so the beginning is with the virtues. It is read so he becomes bright. His face becomes light so his colour changes. If he reaches the end of the book, he finds in it: “these are your sins. I have forgiven them for you.” He will be greatly joyous at that. Then he will turn over his book and read his virtues so will not increase except with joy until he reaches the end of the book. He finds in it: “these are your virtues. They have been multiplied for you.” His face will whiten and a crown will be brought so it is placed on his head. He is covered with two jewels and every gap between them (is filled). He becomes 60 cubits tall and that is the height of Adam. It is said to him: “go to your companions and give them the good news. Tell them that every person among them will be given like this. If they depart (are in doubt), he says:

"Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account

Allah Almighty says:

﴿ فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ ﴾

“So he will be in a pleasant life”

Meaning: that he likes

﴾ فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ ﴿

“In an elevated garden”

In the heavens

﴿قُطُوفُهَا﴾

“Its [fruit]”

It’s fruits and grapes

﴿ دَانِيَةٌ ﴾

“To be picked hanging near”
Near to them

He will say to his friends: do you know me? They will say: “you have been immersed in the kindness of Allah.” “Who are you?” He will say: “I am so and so, to give every man among you good news like this:

“[They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past.”

Meaning: brought them forwards in the days of the life

If the person is a pioneer of evil: he will be called and asked for. He will have many followers. He will be called by his name and his father’s name. His reckoning will be brought forwards so a black book will be brought out with a black line. At the bottom of it are his virtues and at the top are his sins. He starts with the virtues and reads them so think that he will be saved. If he reaches the end of the book, he finds in it: “these are your virtues. They have been returned to you so that your face can be blackened, increase your sadness and panic about good. Then he turns over his book so reads his sins. He does not increase except with sadness. His face does not increase except in blackness. If he reaches the end of the book, he finds in it: “these are you sins. They have been increased for you.” Meaning: his punishment will be multiplied. (This) does not mean he will increase in deeds that he did not commit. He said: he is brought closer to the fire so his eyes become blue and his face is blackened. He is clothed with trousers of tar. It is said to him: go to your companions and tell them that each of them will have like this so he goes and it is said:

His neck goes into it and then he is pulled by it. He is pulled by it and put on a molten mountain. He calls his companions and says: “do you know me?” They will say: “no, but maybe we can see what sadness you are in. Who are you?” He will say: “I am so and so.” Each of you will have like this. I am among those who were given their books behind their back. His left shoulder comes down so he puts his hand behind him and takes his book with it. Mujahid said: his face is at the place of the scuff of his neck so he reads his book like that.

Imagine yourself coming out from the happy ones…you have come out to the creation with a happy face. You have been judged with completeness, goodness and beauty. Your book is in your right hand. An angel takes you calling to the heads of the creation: “this is so and so.” It is a happiness that will never diminish ever again.

If you are among the wrongdoing people, your face will blacken. The creatures will grab your book from your left or from behind your back. They call for woe and destruction.

An angel will call you at the heads of the creation: “So and so has wronged a wrong for which he will never be happy”[1]